Truth in Advertising

I was going to do a more serious post about the "War on the Middle Class" book by Lou Dobbs and how I really agree with him as far as I have read into the book. Then I saw this cover with the blurb on it of "Oversized First Issue". Well yes she is, but sheesh did you have to add extra advertisement about it.

I want to like this book, but this ridiculous exaggeration makes the credibility of the book already damaged into just a good girl art book. Also please see Dave Stevens work for beautiful women who are real looking, that is good girl art, this is just stupid. Of course maybe they are mirages.

Still too funny to pass up. I hope they added that blurb knowing that they were making fun of their character.

Independent August Preview Review

Lee: I must say this is another great month for independents. There is lots of balance between Golden Age reprints, historical perspectives and new material. Even, though I wasn’t happy with the Marvel/DC offerings this month there is still lots to look forward to. The single favorite book is hard to choose this month because there are so many good books. New Charley’s War, Get Lost, Miss Fury but the prize has got to be The Angel Fire GN from Carlton Books. There was waaaayyyy to much buzz about that book.
Jim: From the independent side of things I would say Killing Pickman is the book that I’m most anticipating, but every month I find something of great interest in all our preview review columns. Still I have to say that considering these guys make up probably only 10% of the market, they really cover a lot of bases. I really wish that more people would try these books. There is a lot of so-so material also, but Lee and I do make an effort to highlight some of the more interesting stuff. So give another Independent a try before getting another Avenger spin-off or another new DC mini-series.

AIT/PLANETLAR

LAST OF THE INDEPENDENTS GN – by Matt Fraction & Kieron Dwyer.
A good man, a bad move, and then all Hell breaks loose: Cole Caudle was just one big score away from his happily-ever-after when everything went off the rails, and fast. Now one man's last shot at The American Dream becomes the first shotgun blast in a mob war halfway between Vegas and nowhere. 128 pages.
Lee: Early Matt Fraction comics! Ya gotta love it. Great story about bad luck criminals and great art by Dwyer. Good stuff. Interesting format too, it opens on the long side for the “panoramic view”
Jim: Normally I think Lee has some good picks, but I’m not sold on Matt Fraction and Kieron Dwyer is not a great artist in my opinion, so this is a pass for me.

APE ENTERTAINMENT

CEREAL AND PAJAMAS GN
No Saturday morning breakfast was complete without a healthy dose of cartoons. Inspired in style and execution by fond memories and fueled by mature storytelling, the creators of Cereal & Pajamas bring you endless worlds of adventure: faraway galaxies, zombified tomorrows, fantastic landscapes, crime-ridden cities, and many more. Saturday morning grows up with 11 original tales by industry veterans and newcomers alike. 128 pages.
Lee: By now if you haven’t realized I love anthologies you must be… insert snide comment here. ANYWHO. Unlike Jim who didn’t have a TV growing up (radio only in those days!), Cereal and PJ’s basically describes my life from 5 until 35. So, an entire project devoted to Saturday morning silliness might be really good. Preview pages can be found at http://www.comicspace.com/cerealandpajamas/
Jim: The premise for this book is so appealing and the cover is so cool looking, that I’m drawn to this book. Still this is a book that I would look to check out in the store prior to committing to buying it. Still worth looking for when it comes out.

ARCHAIA STUDIOS PRESS

OKKO: CYCLE OF WATER HC
Year 1108: the Asagiri Era, or the Time of Mists, during which the great clans wage decades-long wars in attempts to seize power. Far from the fields of battle, Okko the ronin heads a small group of demon hunters, wandering the realms of the Pajan Empire. He is accompanied by Noburo, a mysterious giant who hides his face behind a red mask, and the whimsical monk Noshin, the saké lover with the power to summon and commune with the spirits of nature. When Tikku's sister Little Carp is kidnapped by pirates, the young fisherman enlists the group's help in finding her. But the quest will have a price, and will lead our four heroes much farther afield than they'd ever imagined. 128 pages

Lee: I really like a lot of what Archaia studios puts out these days. AND, Shawn Douglas from the store blabs how good this is all the time. I am looking forward to this.
Jim: Shawn loaned me the first two issues and I enjoyed them enough to order the hard cover. Had a really nice feel to the book, terrific artwork and a good story. With the Japanese themes in it I know Gwen will enjoy after I read it and mail it off to her.

KILLING PICKMAN #1 - [of 6] by Jason Becker & Jon Rea.
William Bloody Wulf" Zu is a New York homicide detective that has just made the arrest of his career. With the apprehension of Richard Pickman he has solved over one hundred missing child cases over a span of thirty years. The excavation of Pickman's basement reveals horrors beyond imagination: the bodies of children mutilated in bizarre satanic rites. But nine years of solving violent crimes and this latest and most awful discovery has pushed William Zu to the brink. Frustrated with his role of clean-up man to the detritus of the world, William makes what may be a fatal mistake: he decides to kill Pickman, a man who may be no ordinary imprisoned psychopath.
Jim: This is a publisher whose stuff I look for as they have been the publisher bringing us Mouse Guard and the English translation of Killer. The premise sounds interesting and points to someone who is trying to do what he thinks is right, but maybe is in over his head.
Lee: It’s not often that I overlook the interesting but this does sound good. Archaia may become a studio to watch out for in the future.

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS

BETTY
Lee: This month’s embarrassed to be a fanboy cover goes to… believe it or not Betty. Ummm HELLO!!!! This is for kiddies.
Jim: That not even a risqué cover by today’s standards. I thought I was older then you, not vice versa.

Lee: I would agree it’s not risqué IF IT WEREN’T BETTY!!!! ... But, seeing how you're used to Frank Cho figure studies, let me explain:(1) Betty in spaghetti straps. When was the last time you saw that??? Uuumm never?(2) Look closely at the purse strap... it appears to push the boobs forward.(3) Uuumm I haven't seen this much "under shading" since Jim Balent drew catwoman.Seriously, compare it to any of the other covers in the Archie line. This is nary a boob shape on Betty or Veronica. In Veronica's book Betty's a "large B" or "small C"... on this cover. Solid D. That's what I am talking about. It’s just wrong and I wouldn’t show my little girl this issue!
Jim: Gosh, it is hard to think anyone could see so much in a cover. It is disturbing on some level that Lee is so concerned over the cup size of Betty and Veronica (still given the way many woman are drawn in comics they better all have super strength just to not fall forward). As for the type of top she is wearing, it is just an update to what many girls wear today and it is supposed to be a little provocative or Archie would not be so taken with her. I think Lee is suffering from having a little girl and starting to realize that she will grow up one day.

ADVENTURES OF LITTLE ARCHIE VOL. 1 SC by Bob Bolling.
Some of the best and earliest Little Archie stories are compiled in this special volume. Bob Bolling is considered by many comic book collectors to be Archie Comics' equivalent of the duck man, Carl Barks. It's easy to see why: his classic tales are epic in scope, as Little Archie deals with Martian invaders, secret spies, pirates, freewheeling uncles, gorillas on the loose, and more! Lee: I felt this needed to be included to offset the ridiculous Betty cover. This reprints some of the classic Little Archie stories from the 60’s. More adventuresome than the normal series this is a good way to see classic comics.
Jim: Lee is apparently obsessed with Betty. Nice to see some of this stuff back in reprint. Now they need to reprint the Archie characters as the super-hero stuff they used to do.

AVATAR PRESS INC

DOKTOR SLEEPLESS SHOT GLASS - Time to toss back some drinks in style, with this Doktor Sleepless logo shot glass. Limited to just 500 units.
Jim: Come on, the book has even been issued yet!
Lee: I like the fact that it equates comic nerds with alcoholics. Excellent marketing.

BOOM! STUDIOS

X ISLE VOL. 1 SC by Cosby, Nelson, Scott & Imaginary Friends.
A team of researchers drift on the ocean, lost, in their quest for an enigmatic island that's never been explored. Washing on its shores, they find a dense, terrifying jungle populated with animal and plant life that has evolved along a completely different path. What secret does this isle hold? Why are the life forms there so dangerous - and so alien? In the tradition of Alien and the recent horror-hit The Descent! Featuring art from Greg Scott (Gotham Central, Sword of Dracula) 128 pages.
Lee: Boom! is starting to trade more and more material. This can only be a good sign the company is holding its own. This was considered a pulpy, sci-fi type story and received good enough reviews. Might be worth checking out.
Jim: I enjoyed this series and since there were significant lags between issues, I believe it will read much better as a trade. It is not the greatest story in the world, but I think you get your money’s worth.

POTTER'S FIELD #1 – by Waid, Azaceta & Jones
The new series from writer Mark Waid! Outside New York City is Potter's Field, where the unnamed dead are buried. Now, a mysterious man has taken it upon himself to name the unnamed in this cemetery! Using a network of underground operatives who don't know each other, he fights to save the unsaved and solve the mysteries of the unjustly slain!
Jim: This has a good publisher, good writer (Waid) and a cool concept. Boom has been talking about this series for awhile, so I hope we actually get to see this book soon.
Lee: I don’t know about this one. Sounds like a rehash of an old Pulp Novel ala The Shadow or Doc Savage. Waid is a great writer but I’ll wait to hear the buzz before making a commitment.

CARLTON BOOKS

ANGEL FIRE GN (UPDATED ED.) by Chris Blythe & Steve Parkhouse.
Meet John Dury: the poster boy for a morally corrupt generation. A corporate predator who hunts and kills businesses for money, power, and bonuses paid in designer drugs. The latest drug to hit the city is Angel Fire. A powerful sedative and hallucinogen that seems to open the door to the next world. Instead of finding the keys to heaven, John opens the door to hell - spiralling into a nightmare dimension of ghosts and demons - and the faceless shadow that waits in the deepest blackest reaches of his own soul. Part Faustian fable, part Gothic horror story - Angel Fire is a powerful tale of corruption and redemption, told by two of the UK's top comic book creators. This new edition features over 80 pages of new material. 192 pages. (9x12)
Lee: I remember when this first came out. It was an internet only GN but got great, great reviews from everyone. Now it’s readily available and UPDATED! Can’t beat that. Highly recommended and I am looking forward to reading it. Previews at http://www.shatteredframes.com/angelfire/ the layout is a total pain in the …. And requires Flash & but it’s worth it.
Jim: This looks like a worthwhile book to check out. I will definitely follow-up on this book and maybe pick it up. Thanks Lee.

CHECKER BOOK PUBLISHING GROUP
GROWING OLD WITH B.C.: A CELEBRATION OF JOHNNY HART GN
One of the most beloved comic strips of all time is comprehensively collected here for the first time! Features personally hand-picked strips from the master himself, Johnny Hart, prior to his death in April 2007. This edition celebrates the prehistoric hilarity which was B.C. Each chapter lovingly captures the best strips from each decade of the comic strip from the 1950's through the 2000's. This volume features detailed descriptions of the real people Johnny patterned each individual character in the strip after and discussion by Johnny Hart of the strip with foreword by Bobby Hart. Also included are rare never-before-published concept art drawn by Johnny Hart just prior to the launch of the strip, and also a newly drawn cover done by Mr. Hart shortly prior to his death. 200 pages. (9x9)
Lee: I know B.C. has been around forever. And I know it’s considered a classic but.. there’s just something about the strip where I can’t elevate it to the “Peanuts” level. I’m glad it’s getting published and this is great for the strip art collector but I am not sure it’s coming home with me. Jim: Wow, Lee is passing on a cartoon strip and I’m buying it. I love BC, but since it has been around forever, I don’t love it enough to want ever issue and every strip, so this is a perfect collection for me. It is small enough and skips around enough to hit every era. When I was in grade school I really loved the little trade paperbacks of this and Wizard of ID.

DREAM OF THE RAREBIT FIEND: THE SATURDAYS SC by Winsor McCay.
This oversized softcover edition collects Winsor McCay's Saturday Dream of the Rarebit Fiend strips form 1904- 1911. These strips are presented in the enlarged format for the first time and printed to 98% of their original size. Features 190 cartoons in all. 200 pages.
Lee: One of my favorites. Winsor McCay! Simply amazing artwork.
Jim: Okay, if you haven’t realized by now, Lee is the king of cartoon strips and the older the better. I think Lee can be a certified historian on the strips by now. And he talks about my love for BOOM & IDW – Sheesh!

D.E./DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

COSMIC GUARD SC by Jim Starlin.
Jim Starlin’s own brand-new series - The Cosmic Guard! A young orphan is chosen by a mysterious light from space to become the latest in a long line of Cosmic Guardians, super-powered defenders who are charged with protecting the galaxy. Ray Torres is literally teetering on the edge of suicide - planning to leap from the roof of the orphanage where he lives - when a shooting star changes his life forever by choosing him to join a long line of space superheroes called the Cosmic Guard. Featuring story and art from the legendary Jim Starlin, this Dynamite collection features the complete six-issue series, plus a complete cover gallery, sketch materials, and more! 144 pages
Lee: Let me say that I love Jim Starlin. I love all his super, grand scale, cosmic events. Well, let me clarify, I love all his super, grand scale cosmic events that deal with characters I know. A pass for me but nice to see it’s getting published.
Jim: I love Jim Starlin also, but the character is too young and the plot does not sound inspired, so I will also pass.

DERFCITY COMICS

MY FRIEND DAHMER #1 by Derf.
The haunting true story of the author's high-school friendship with Jeffrey Dahmer, the strange boy who went on to become one of the most notorious serial killers in history. This Eisner-nominated book is written and drawn by Derf, cartoonist for the Village Voice and raucous comic strip, The City.
Lee: Derf is a great comix artist and the subject matter… well, lets just say it’s odd. But, it certainly isn’t dull. Previews at http://www.derfcity.com/
Jim: The premise is certainly unique, but some subject matter while I have an intellectual curiosity about, I will not buy or bother reading. I understand why someone would, but I’m not trying to be an FBI profiler.

DESPERADO PUBLISHING

STARCHILD: MYTHOPOLIS II VOL. 1 GN by James A. Owen.
James A. Owen returns to his first love. This quarterly series will not only complete the saga of Starchild with new 20 page chapters, but also feature a collaborative short story section called "Tales From the Two Penny Inn" with creators such as Paul Dini, Bill Sienkiewicz, and others, plus the serialized "Obscuro" and an illustrated serialized novella prequel to the Here, There Be Dragons novel. 96 pages.
Lee: Honestly, I know nothing about this but according to the hype “From the author of the 100,000 plus selling HERE, THERE BE DRAGONS novel series (and upcoming motion picture).” I managed to find some of the covers around the internet but not a lot of interior art. That said, I’m still intrigued.
Jim: Eh, not me. I’m unintrigued.

OF SCENES & STORIES SC
From the writer and creator of Baker Street, Renfield, Deadworld, Saint Germaine, and dozens of others comes a collection of works spotlighting the insightful writing talent of Gary Reed. Working with a selection of artists who represent the cream of the crop in today's comic marketplace, Reed will personally introduce and discuss aspects of the story... the motivation, what he was trying to accomplish, what it was like working with each artist, and more! 304 pages.
Lee: This looks like a great “how to” book to me. I’m not convinced that Gary Reed is a super writer but I am interested to hear how his written vision was translated to the page by the artist. This has lots and lots of potential. Previews at http://www.desperado.lightcubed.com/index.html
Jim: Agreed, more of a “how to” book. Still Lee thinks this guy is not a great writer, so why do I care how he does it?

IDW PUBLISHING

30 DAYS OF NIGHT: RED SNOW #1 by Ben Templesmith (W & A & C)
1941. Hitler's Operation: Silver Fox has failed, but the war on the Eastern Front drags on as the Russian winter starts to bite. British military attaché Corporal Charlie Keating observes the war from the Soviet side, making sure crucial supplies get through to aid Stalin's front in the battle against the Nazis. With luck, he too will survive to see the end of the war. But something else is out there, and they're not the Nazis. No matter how hard humanity tries to kill itself, something else does it better.
Jim: Another 30 Days of Night mini-series and this one is by Ben Templesmith (co-creator), as writer and artist. Ben’s other writer/artist book is great (Wormwood Gentleman Corpse), so I think this should also be a very good mini-series.
Lee: Templesmith has been on a roll lately. G. Corpse has been excellent, so I expect this to be really good too.

FOX ATOMIC COMICS

NIGHTMARE FACTORY GN
The terrifying world of acclaimed horror writer Thomas Ligotti brought frighteningly to life by a collection of today's most talented writers and illustrators. In this book, three of Ligotti's most terrifying stories are adapted by three distinct writer/artist teams. In The Last Feast of the Harlequin, writer Stuart Moore and artist Colleen Doran tell of an anthropologist's journey into a surreal winter carnival, where he witnesses an ancient rite of human sacrifice to grotesque worm-like creatures. Ben Templesmith's art accompanies Stuart Moore's adaptation of Dream of a Mannequin, the story of a patient and psychiatrist bound together in a horrific dream. And in the final story, writer Joe Harris and artist Michael Gaydos team up to adapt a strange urban legend that robs artists of their desire to create art when they're confronted with horrible revelations. Each story is more terrifying than the next, and the talent assembled here brings a new dimension to a legendary horror writer's most chilling work. 112 pages.
Lee: Thomas Ligotti is apparently a very good horror writer who has won several awards for his stories. So the source material should be good. The artist involved are all excellent. There is no reason this shouldn’t be a winner.
Jim: Agreed, I think Lee has a potential winner with this book.

GAGNE INTERNATIONAL PRESS

ZED #8 by Michel Gagné.
KRAH - the loudest band in the universe - and their devoted group of alien headbangers prepare for a grand cosmic battle. It's galactic pandemonium on an epic scale! Meanwhile, ZED is helping to rebuild his home world and enjoying some moments of peace and happiness. Michel (Flight and Insanely Twisted Rabbits) Gagné's critically acclaimed sci-fi series continues to surprise and amaze with unexpected twists and turns.
Lee: I’ve always loved Gagne’s art. I haven’t heard of this series but I might have to check it out. Visit http://www.gagneint.com/ for some previews.
Jim: See even if I loved the creators the premise takes me out of this book. Just something that I do not think sound interesting.

HERMES PRESS

ANDRU AND ESPOSITO: PARTNERS FOR LIFE SC Penciller Ross Andru and inker Mike Esposito were one of the most famous, prolific, and talented artistic teams to flourish during the Siver Age of comics. Whether working as publishers of their own work during the 1950s or at DC Comics on such strips as Wonder Woman, Suicide Squad, Metal Men, Flash, on numerous war strips, or on DC's flagship character, Superman, their work is fondly remembered today by fans and comic book historians. In the 1970s both artists lent their talents to Marvel's titles and continued to turn in inspiring work for DC. Andru and Esposito: Partners for Life chronicles the careers of both artists and is packed with hundreds of illustrations, most from original artwork, spanning both artists' careers. 208 pages. (8x11)
Lee: There seems to be lots and lots of books about famous creators these days. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining and this should be really good. I just need to find the time to read them all.
Jim: And while I respect these people as talents, I never cared for their work that much.

ANDRU AND ESPOSITO'S GET LOST! SC
Love Harvey Kurtzman's original MAD? Then you will have to have Ross Andru and Mike Esposito's historic satire and parody magazine, Get Lost! Originally released in 1953, Get Lost! delivered three ground-breaking, laugh-filled issues before Bill Gaines sued the magazine's distributor, shutting down production of the magazine. Even though Gaines lost the lawsuit, Andru and Esposito never produced more issues of Get Lost! Hermes Press' historic reprint collects all three issues of the magazine on heavy coated paper together with essays from noted comic book historians together with tons of documentary material. This archival edition of MAD's most noteworthy competitor reproduces Get Lost!'s covers in full color and is a treasure to behold for fans of MAD, as well as comic book collectors, fans, and anybody looking for a good laugh! 160 pages.
Lee: This should be fantastic. “Get Lost!” is supposedly a fantastic book with excellent art. This is definitely coming home.
Jim: After my last comment you can guess that I will be missing this book also.

MARKOSIA

WITNESS #1 (COVER A) by Brian Augustyn & Seth Frail.
The cities at the edges of the American Mid-West corn-belt are plagued by crime, drugs, and danger. The low profile that part of the country enjoys gives criminals like Max Quantrill free reign to build a huge illicit empire in Crystal City. Now the city is protected by an unknown hero who sees everything and acts swiftly; call him. The Witness.
Jim: I haven’t seen Brian Augustyn’s name for awhile, but he wrote some decent books before and the premise sound interesting enough for me to give it a try.
Lee: You are braver that I. I agree that Augustyn wrote some good things but the premise doesn’t sound incredibly interesting. Kinda generic actually… lots of crime and new mysterious hero arrives. Been there done that. Seth Frail has an interesting style so maybe the art will pull it to above average. You’ll have to let me know.

ONI PRESS INC

FIRST IN SPACE GN – by James Vining. Extensively researched, First in Space is based on the true story of Ham, a chimpanzee Americans trained for the first sub-orbital spaceflight. This rousing adventure provides a snapshot in time of America's conquest of space. 96 pages. (6x9)
Lee: I’ve heard about this somewhere… can’t quite seem to place it… where where where???? Oh that’s right. Jim can’t stop raving about this series! Yak yak yak. All day long. Please buy it just to keep Jim quiet… and not to mention that it’s a really good series.
Jim: Well said Lee.

PAPERCUTZ

TALES FROM THE CRYPT VOL. 1: GHOULS GONE WILD GN Over fifty years have passed since the last issue of the comic that inspired a hit HBO TV series was published, and Papercutz is proud to revive this frightful franchise filled with thrills, chills all laced with dark humor! It just goes to show you can't keep an old Ghoul down! Each issue will feature four new tales of undead lunacy, written and drawn by today's best comic book and graphic novel creators, and introduced by the original pun-spouting Crypt Keeper himself. Includes stories not seen in the comic books! Also available is the collector's edition hardcover! 112 pages. (5x7)
Lee: I’m sorry but this just pisses me off. I ordered the first issue because I was interested in the book. NOW, one month (maybe two) later the issue a trade with not only the material from the issue I bought but new material???? A blatant case of screwing the reader and piss poor marketing. I’m very close to buying none of it as a protest campaign.
Jim: This really does smack of screwing your buying public. Especially when you are a small publisher, pissing off even 10% of your base is dangerous.

PURE IMAGINATION PUBLISHING

BASIL WOLVERTON: AGONY AND ECSTASY SC
The Crazy Coot of Comics turns a little more serious in his collection of drawings done to illustrate The Bible. Over 200 illustrations in this volume show that he could do it all. Rare, and rarely seen, Agony and Ecstasy offers up super rare drawings by the master of mayhem! 160 pages
Lee: Long time reader Matthew… this pick is for you! Wolverton was an amazing artist so the pictures will be fantastically pretty. That’s for sure.
Jim: Okay.

MISS FURY SC – by Tarpe Mills.
Tarpe Mill's fabulous costumed female hero is seen once again for the first time in almost a decade. This volume features 160 pages reprinted from the rare and expensive Timely comics using the Theakstonizing process for sharp reproduction.
Lee: Golden age cheesecake reprints. I love it. Not quite Phantom Lady but a very close second. Well worth checking out if you have any interest in golden age material.
Jim: I very tempted, but I have so much stuff that I haven’t even gotten around to reading yet, but it sounds so interesting.

TITAN PUBLISHING

CHARLEY'S WAR VOL. 4: BLUES STORY HC by Pat Mills & Joe Colquhoun.
Renowned comics writer Pat Mills (Marshal Law, Sláine) and artist Joe Colquhoun (Johnny Red) continue their thrilling WWI story! Long out of print, rich in the minutiae of the soldier's existence, this fourth volume of the classic strips of the Charley's War series features an introduction and commentary by Pat Mills and exclusive bonus content on the historical background to the series! 120 pages. (9x12)
Lee: I try to mention this series to anyone that will listen. One of the greatest war stories… bar none… ever. Great art. Great story. Pat Mills, listed lots of historical footnotes to show he wasn’t making things up. If you have ever wondered what war was and is like (and it isn’t pretty) this is the place to start. A brutal and uncompromising look at one of the most devastating wars ever. Highly recommended.
Jim: Lee, did you ever loan me one of these, sounds good.

TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS

SUPER SPY GN – by Matt Kindt.
Super Spy is a super-deluxe, full-color collection of 52 interwoven spy thrillers about cyanide, pen-guns, heartbreak, and betrayal. Spanning the countries of Spain, France, and Germany during World War II, each story follows the everyday life of a spy, exploring their small lies and deceptions, as well as the larger secrets they hide. A children's book is something more than it seems; a woman swims the English Channel to deliver a deadly secret; a German spy desperately seeks escape for herself and her daughter; and a spy continues to serve his country even beyond death. A gorgeous full-color graphic novel that not only reveals the nature of espionage, but how an individual can be lost in a world of lies and deception, and still manage to find redemption. 336 pages. (6x9)
Lee: I like Kindt scratchy style and the premise sounds interesting. 300+ pages. I just might have to give it a try. Check out http://www.supersecretspy.com/ for previews.
Jim: I’ll wait till Lee reads it and tell me it’s good before I buy it. He was dead on with Surrogates from Top Shelf.

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT LLC

HARBINGER: THE BEGINNING HC – by Jim Shooter & David Lapham.
This digitally recolored and remastered Valiant special edition collects the full Harbinger origin story from issues #0 - 7 for the first time ever, and includes an all-new Origin of Harada story by Jim Shooter! This classic story of Sting's band of renegade teenagers with extraordinary powers of the mind and their battle against Japanese tycoon Toyo Harada took the comics industry by storm in 1992. It features Eisner award-winner David Lapham's very first work as a talented teenager and one of legendary creator Jim Shooter's greatest stories ever!
Lee: The series and company that kept many a comic store afloat in the 90’s. I’ve never read the Harbinger series but I have to get this.
Jim: This was really good stuff. I think Valiant would have been one hell of a comic company if Shooter had stayed involved, but the internal politics killed him at Valiant and they kicked out the guy who had the good ideas.

ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC

GRIMM FAIRY TALES ANNUAL #1
The first Annual from the hit indie series Grim Fairy Tales is here! Featuring a whopping six brand-new stories as Zenescope puts the Grim spin on classic nursery rhythms and fairy tales including Jack and Jill, The Old Woman in the Shoe, Pinocchio, Little Boy Blue, and Peter Peter Pumkin Eater. All this plus a bonus tale, Story Time, introducing an all new character whose actions will effect Sela and the Grim universe forever more! 48 pages.
Jim: Not as good as Fables, but better then the good girl covers would imply. Grimm Fairy Tales are a fast read, but they are fun remakes of the classic Fairy Tales, always with a modern day allegory.
Lee: There isn’t a lot of buzz about this series but those that read it seem to really like it. This is as good as place as any to give it a try.

Random Action Figure of the Week

STEVE IRWIN: WILDLIFE ADVENTURE SERIES - This 9 tall talking action figure features the actual voice of Steve Irwin! You can play the voice in two ways: push the #1 button to hear 8 different Steve sayings or push the #2 button to go on a talking adventure with Steve!
Lee: Wow. I can’t decide if this is twisted and just a poor judgment to make money off a dead man’s name or poor judgment as a way to keep his memory alive. Either way, it’s pretty sad.
Jim: As long as it doesn’t come with a removable stingray, I think this is okay. Especially if it promotes Irwin’s wildlife causes. He was a great talent.

Lee: See what I mean! A really good month. Now, the book I am interested in but not sure I will actually purchase… “Of Scenes & Stories” by Desperado Publishing. I am always interested in the craft of comics but I would like to see the book before actually making a commitment.
Jim: Well to follow Lee’s lead here the book that has me interested but I will probably not buy is the Miss Fury SC. I love the Golden Age and the middle age (before Silver /After Golden) stuff, as it has a lot of different type of material. I’m with Lee, that often I want to see a product before buying it and with it being so specialized most stores only order it, if a customer orders it, so it never sees a shelf.

Boys and Girls are different…

So this week I learned two things, (1) no matter how much I deny it, I may be an adult and (2) boys are just wired differently than girls.

Why do I think I am becoming an adult? Well, I went rollerblading with a friend at lunch today. When I was 20, I would have talked about how much I drank the night before, or no matter what my friend said to the contrary, what a hottie the girl was. When I was 30, I would have talked about the cool, new powertool that I purchased and how much I drank while using it for "bathroom renovation". Now that I am older than 30, less than 40, and alot less than Jim... we talked about the mortgage (benefits of vs. being mortgage free) and saving for the kids college fund. A sad milestone was reached today... I may be an adult.

And why do I think boys and girls are different? Well, besides the physical differences they just are. I know there has been this argument about nature vs. nurture and whatnot. But based on first hand experience, there is no nurture, there is only nature.

For example, the family went bike riding the other day. We ended up at the local park for two reasons: (1) the kids are still small and the bikes are equipped with training wheels, which makes the park the safest place around, and (2) the park has the flattest stretch of land. Where I live is very hilly, so flat stretches are few and far between. If you've ever been to Southern Virginia, West Virginia or Kentucky you know what I mean.

We decided to spend one leg of the trip (going out or coming back) with one child so everyone got quality time. As luck would have it, I got the Boy first. I didn’t realize but the boy was on a mission. You see, a bike path is like a giant race track and the objective is to get to the end of the track. To be precise, get to the end of the track as fast as you can. I like to call it a “clear focus”, Mom calls it his AR tendencies.

So he’s on his little Schwinn cruising along and I am beside him on the super duper 20-something speed. Please note, I just got the bike and little did I know it had so many gears. ANYWAY, I’m in the lowest gear (#1 on the left handle) and sorta low on the right handle (#3). It means that I can peddle and move along slowly, but I move. I think this is the gear that Lance Armstrong uses when he goes up the Pyrenees but it worked for me in the flat park.

I should have noticed something was not quite right when we had to stop several times to let Mom and the Girl catch up. But, never letting someone else's misery impact my good time I didn't see what was happening. So, after a while, read: the Wife couldn’t take it anymore, we switched children. Although tired, the Boy zzzooooooooommmmmeeeedddd off again, this time with Mom in tow. Which left me with… dum dum dum… the Girl.

This is when the differences between boys and girls became very, very obvious. You see, as a little boy at heart, I related to the Boy's drive to reach the end. If I’m on a bike, I want to go fast, I want to see the world rush by, I want to go someplace. Little girls aren’t like that. At least my little Girl isn’t. My little Girl likes to talk....
She talks about the butterflies that are around us,
She talks about the green grass,
She talks about brown grass,
She talks about the squirrel that ran across our path,
She talks about school,
She talks about her “12 Dancing Princess’s” video
She talks... and talks.... and talks... and talks...

Now, in all this talking did you see any peddling? Nope, neither did I. I actually had to downshift. That’s right I went from the lowest gear (#1 on the left handle) and sorta low on the right handle (#3), to lowest gear (#1 on the left handle) and lowest on the right handle (#1). That’s right, I was in gear #1, level #1. I have never, ever in my entire life used this gear. Not only I have not used it, I don’t know anyone else who has used it either. I could pedal as fast as I could and still move ONE INCH and hour. Seriously, it was all I could do to keep the bike upright I was moving so slow.

And as I started to realize I could walk my bike faster than ride it... off in the distance, I heard my wife cackle, “Free. I’m Free!” as she sped away.

At least I think she said "Free" because Girl was talking about the baseball field, and talking about horses, and talking... and talking....

Best to Worst of Last Week

I found this to be fun for now and have decided to rank every book that came out that I read this week. Also I will try to add some small comments as to why. The demarcation line is also something that I want to play with and if a book hits it three times in a row, I should make it a rule for myself to cancel it. Often a book could make it below the line, but a fill-in issue does not necessarily denote the overall quality of the series itself.

JSA #6 – Karate Kid, Dawnstar, Wildfire, my Legion is guest starring in JSA!
Crossing Midnight #7 – Already great and a very rich book.
Countdown #48 – Really enjoying this book on many levels.
Silent War #5 (of 6) – Really a good mini-series.
Daredevil #97 – Had some great moments.
Green Lantern #20 – Love the story – the art – not so much.
Shaolin Cowboy #7 – The art, with any humor like the last issue it could have been #1.
JSA Classified #26 – Wildcat rocks!
Deathblow #5 – The talking dog is great.
Amazon Attack #2 (of 6) – Getting good.
Fallen Angel #16 – Art is weak.
Teen Titans #47 – Get a direction
Hellboy Darkness Calls #2 (of 6)– Still not sure what is going on, but it feels cool.
===============================================
Ultimate Fantastic Four #42 – Feels like a Silver Surfer movie is coming out.
Blue Beetle #15 – Fill in
New Avengers Illuminati #3 (of 5) – Eh! Nothing really happened, Retro-con BS.
Hawkgirl #64 – Series is ending soon
Deadman #10 – No resolutions have occurred in 10 issues
Action Comics #850 – Very boring and convoluted rehash.
Boys #7 - See previous comments

This list comes together a lot easier then I thought it would when I originally did it last week. A few books are hard to peg into the exact right place, but for the most part it falls together very well. Action and Blue Beetle are below the line books that are not reflective of the overall quality of the series as both are not the regular creative teams. New Avengers Illuminati is a mini-series; Hawkgirl is over in two issues, so that leaves Ultimate FF, Deadman and the Boys are potential cuts from my list.

What I'm Getting Wednesday

Back to a four week month, this should mean four decent size weeks. It used to be that the summer time was the time frame for all the big events and while DC and Marvel have promised “earth shattering, status quo busting changes” in Flash #13 and New Avengers #31, that lead into the mega events of 2008, this summer seems to be a little quieter. Although WW Hulk and X-Men Extinction agenda are floating around and Countdown is an event itself, it feels quieter then was the norm.

Atom #12 – So the hype for change begins right with the Atom. The official hype “Beginning a sweeping 4-part story arc that will change the history of the Atom! Ryan Choi makes the fateful decision to proactively seek his predecessor and learn where he went at the end of IDENTITY CRISIS!” For me it is enough that he is going to find Ray Palmer, but the extra hype is just to me hyperbole and is best ignored. I find the over blowing of these types annoying because they raise expectations that can’t be met. The search for Ray Palmer and the fact that the source wall (in Countdown) said Ray was important is hype enough. Still all said and done, I’m looking forward to this issue.

Birds of Prey #107 – The final showdown between the Secret Six and Birds of Prey. This has been a great story arc in what is consistently a very good series. Love this book and hate that Gail is leaving it for Wonder Woman.

Countdown #47 – They are playing around with Mary Marvel, which is both cool and worrisome. She has been too under used for years and is a character with great potential, so seeing Mary get some attention is cool, but I don’t want her too dark, a little more mystery and depth is okay. I’m really enjoying this series and think it continues to build on itself and feels like it could be great soon.

Detective #833 – This is one of those comics where it will be hard for me not to love it. Paul Dini as writer, Don Kramer as artist and a two part story co-starring Zatanna. What is not to love. Also how cool is it that a book can still be doing great stories on issue #833.

Jonah Hex #20 – The enemies he made last issue are out for revenge on Hex. Hex certainly has the ability to tick off anyone, and some of the people who made mad are definitely nasty people. This is another great series. So far this week is looking like a real winner.

Nightwing #133 – The official hype “A new story arc exploring the lost year of Dick Grayson's life, after he dropped out of college and before the New Teen Titans formed! It's the year that changed his life, during which he made a fateful decision. Now a friend, a foe, and a love from the past have returned from the darkness to haunt him!” Certainly sounds like a decent story idea and Marv Wolfman is doing okay on this book, but we need someone to make Nightwing more then he is being shown here. An okay series at this time.

Outsiders #48 – Part 4 of the Outsiders/Checkmaate cross-over. This story has been well done and the Outsiders remains a consistently exciting book and one that is always subject to a change of mission/pace and cast.

Supergirl #18 – After last issue I’m ready to drop this book, but this maybe the “good” issue after the really bad issue. DC’s most inconsistent series.

Superman #663 – Continuing Busiek and Pacheco’s run on Superman. I have been enjoying the Camelot Falls storyline, but the gaps in time between issues have hurt the pace of the story. Still when Busiek and Pacheco do an issue it has been a good book.

Midnighter #8 – Written by Christos Gage, who has become one of my favorite writers of late. The last two issues of this book have really blown chunks, so let’s see if Gage can do a decent Midnighter story.

Welcome to Tranquility #7 – Gail has pretty much won me over on this book and I actually find myself looking forward to how life in this bizarre little town will continue now that the first and opening arc is out of the way.

Exterminators #18 – The best Vertigo book that enough people are not talking about. Vertigo has Fables, Crossing Midnight, Hellblazer and this book as their best series right now.

Jack of Fables #11 – At long last the second part of the Jack Frost story line. I’m not sure why they screwed up publishing it the way they did, but this story I have been looking forward to the conclusion of for months.

Scalped #6 – Opps - Add this to my list of best Vertigo series right now. The grand opening of the Casino is the starting point for this arc. Good tough drama about crime, undercover cops at an Indian reservation.

Avengers Initiative #3 – I don’t know about this book. This issue the Initiative team is hunting down Spider-Man. It just seems when the big two try to tie their universes together it never feels right. I mean isn’t the Thunderbolts supposed to hunt down the unregistered heroes? The glaring inconsistencies are not an issue when you are not stressing the one universe thing. Growing up I read Spider-Man and Batman in multiple titles every month and never sweated the details, but once you push for me to buy into your new order, then a level of consistency needs to be maintained.

Iron Man #18 – As much as I have grown to really dislike the omnipresent Iron Man, his own book has been interesting and last issue we had an aberration where the story line slowed down too much, but the hype for this issue is pushing the “Ten Rings of Power” so the Mandarin story appears to be front and center again. This has been a decent series of late.

Irredeemable Ant-Man #9 – The four week month following a five week month brings out a lot of strange timing and last issue of this book just came out two weeks ago. Still the last issue keeps me coming back. I’m very ambivalent about this series, but Kirkman is a good writer and this character is growing on me. His new girl friend’s off kilter behavior is a new twist also.

New Warriors #1 – I will usually try out almost any new book, but I do not know the writer at all, Paco Medina is an artist whose work I cannot recall off hand, the New Warriors is a lame concept, made worse by Civil War. Given all those negatives the book will have to shine for me to really like it. The plus is lowered expectations.

Omega Flight #3 (of 5) – A waste of Michael Oeming and Scott Kolins. If an unlimted, maybe this series had a shot, but as a mini-series, we are on issue #3 of 5 and nothing has happened.

Uncanny X-Men #487 – The 12 part maxi-series is over, let’s see if the book can get less boring and tell a story in under a year. Plus put together a group of x-people I care about.

Alien Pig Farm #2 (of 4) – The official hype “Put yer head between yer knees and kiss yer sister goodbye! Them green-skinned sumbitches is hungry fer pig innards and horny fer farm girls! But don't nobody fondle the cousins while eatin’ bacon ‘cept Johnny Ray and Elvis! Consider the can of whoop-ass open!” What’s not to love. A fun series.

Dynamo 5 #4 – The last issue was just two weeks ago. Lot of that going on. Still when I really enjoy the series, two issue almost back to back is great. Last issue a siting of Dynamo was made by the kids, so is their Dad dead or alive. A truly excellent new series by Jay Faerber & Mahmud Asrar.

Invincible #42 – A recap issue and the start of a new story line in this $1.99 issue designed to generate new readers. For those of us who have been there, the way it is presented will be the key to whether this issue is entertaining or a waste of the faithful fans money.

Strange Embrace #1 (of 8) – A decidedly different type of book, but this was David Hine’s signature work and I have enjoyed Silent War and House of M, so I’m giving this a try. I have heard Hine is not the strongest artist in the world. Still I’m curious to check this out.

Ward of the State #2 (of 3) – A twisted tale of foster children forced to kill people. Now two of the kids are trying to get away and a killer is after them. Odd and interesting story.

Fear Agent The Last Goodbye #1 – The first Dark Horse issue. This property is being handled as a series of mini-series. Really a good series that is a lot of fun. Hope the switch to Dark Horse indicates a positive step forward.

30 Days of Night Eben and Stella #2 (of 5?) – The first issue was well done and with Niles as a co-writer, the story is solid and the art was very nice. The franchise continues.

Black Summer #0 (of 7) – Warren Ellis and Avatar press present Ellis’ take on a super hero story. This could be very, very good or it could be a Warren Ellis special (every one dies).

Lone Ranger #6 – It seems like a long time between issues, but the origin story concludes. I have enjoyed this series to date and hope the continuing adventures are as well done as the origin has been so far.

Hopefully Breathe #2 and Fall of Cthulu #3 will make it in, as these are already out but my store had to get my copies later.

That’s a wrap with zero hard covers or trades this week, which I will pay for later in the month with the two hard cover or more weeks.

Boys # 7 - An Editorial

Okay so after all the news and big brouhaha about DC not continuing to publish this book, issue #7 has now come out and we can judge for ourselves whether their action was just or due to a whim on some corporate types.

TO WHOMEVER AT DC SAID THEY WOULD NOT PUBLISH THIS BOOK - CONGRATULATIONS - GREAT JOB.

Also Ennis and Robertson should be thrilled with DC as they could have probably tied up publication of this series for a long time and after reading this I think they might have been tempted to do so.

First off, as a pure comic book, the writing, artwork, coloring and storytelling ability is all first rate. This is a well done comic and has terrific art and beautiful coloring. The layouts are well done and Ennis has written a very readable story and his characterization is such that you don't need a primer before picking up the comic and reading it.

Second, their are some very funny moments in this book. Some of the crude humor makes me laugh (much to my own chagrin at times) and there is a heroic moment in the book.

The problem with the book is that this is not deconstruction, this is not an examination of abuse of power, this is not an examination of the seedy side of how comics started (i.e. dirty money being cleaned via publishing in the "golden age"), this is not an exploration of any real theme, this is Garth Ennis biting the hand that feeds him. After reading this book my question is does Garth Ennis respect anything about anything. His disrespect for religion is obvious, his dislike for heroes has always been evident, but this is taking it to an extreme that I think is too far.

This arc he is lampooning Batman and giving him a unique problem that he want to f**k everything. From a coffee cup to his car's tailpipe. Not as a sexual act, just as a need. The one heroic act is when he sends away his sidekick so he doesn't attack him. Okay so the Batman/Robin gay jokes have never been done before, right? So besides just disrespect of the Batman icon character, it is unoriginal joke as well.

The next subject in this book he is lampooning is a Jack Kirby / Stan Lee amalgamation. He makes him into a crass old man, who knows all the secrets of the super heroes. He lives under a comic book store and pays hookers to give him a b**w job. Nice, really nice, wow I wonder if Ennis is willing to push an old lady down a flight of steps also.

Why would DC publish this book? And as much as Joe Quesada acted like he would be happy to take this book under Marvel's banner, he said that knowing full well that contractually he would never have to actually do that, as I believe Marvel would not publish this book either. Joe was just delighting in the negative publicity storm that was surrounding DC for a few weeks.

DC did the right thing and Ennis is just showing me that he has no respect for those who came before him and gave him the opportunity to earn a living writing comics. What does Ennis' respect? I'm sure he would say that these are just caricatures of characters or that they don't deserve to be put on a pedestal. But, I'm not asking for that, but show some respect or at the very least have a point to your story. Deconstruction - Watchmen, Dystopian future - Dark Knight Returns, power corrupting - the Authority and on and on. Their are many fine examples of the darker side of things, but their was a purpose for their stories. We are seven issues in and I thought there was a glimmer of a story with Wee Hughie and Starlight (?). I was thinking that Hughie and Starlight would see how both sides are wrong and be a counter point to the Boys and the super heroes, but that story was not in this issue.

So hurrah for DC for doing the right thing and not publishing this book, but also allowing Ennis and Robertson the right to do what they want. A "brrpppphhh" to Garth Ennis for having no ability to show any level of respect for anyone. Is there anything that Garth would find offensive - if not, does that mean it is okay to do anything or say anything about anyone? The answer is no - there is right and wrong and this is wrong.

Self Editor

Sometimes we need to not say some things. Now often I say the stuff I should not say, but have gotten better over the years. Yesterday at work I was sorely tempted to turn off my self editor, but I did not.

A younger lady (who is okay looking, but not very good or drop dead gorgeous or anything, also not a troll) was wearing a brown top and a brown pair of pants. The brown was a dull flat brown and the clothes were not form fitting (nothing to really fit too - see things we should not say). She was standing in front of a copy machine in the mail room and no one else was around. I don't know her that well other then to say hi to her. The thought that ran through my mind and was cracking me up was "Hi Mary, you look like sh*t." Now this just was killing me not to say it, but since she does not know me I thought better of it. I have a friend whose self-editor is apparently broken and he is always saying the wrong thing. I told this to two women I work with and they agreed it was funny and that I shouldn't have said it. I mean really how mean is it to hear someone you barely know say you look like sh*t, but still it is funny.